Аракин 4 курс полностью

The Politics of Housework 
It seemed perfectly reasonable. We both had careers, both had to work a couple of 
days a week to earn enough to live on, so why shouldn't we share the housework? So, I 
suggested it to my mate and he agreed. You're right, he said. It's only fair.
Then an interesting thing happened. I can only explain it by stating that we women 
have been brainwashed more than even we can imagine. Probably too many years of 
seeing television women in ecstasy over shiny waxed floors or breaking down over their 
dirty shirt collars. Men have no such conditioning. They recognize the essential fact of 
housework right from the very beginning. Which is that it stinks.
Here's my list of dirty chores: buying groceries, carting them home and putting them 
away; cooking meals and washing dishes and pots; doing the laundry; digging out the 
place when things get out of control; washing floors. The list could go on but the sheer 
necessities are bad enough. All of us have to do these things, or get someone else to do 
them for us. The longer

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Практический курс английского языка. 4 курс под ред. В.Д. Аракина
252 
my husband contemplated these chores, the more repulsed he became, and so proceeded 
the change from the normally sweet considerate Dr Jekyll into the crafty Mr Hyde who 
would stop at nothing to avoid the horrors of housework. As he felt himself backed into a 
corner laden with dirty dishes, brooms, mops and reeking garbage, his front teeth grew 
longer and pointer, his finger-nails haggled and his eyes grew wild. Housework trivial? 
Not on your life! Just try to share the burden. 
So ensued a dialogue that's been going on for several years. Here are some of the high 
points:
I don't mind sharing the housework, but I don't do it very well. We should each do the 
things we're best at.
MEANING Unfortunately I'm no good at things like washing dishes or cooking. What I 
do best is a little light carpentry, changing light bulbs, moving furniture (how often do 
you move furniture?)
ALSO MEANING Historically the lower classes (Black men and us) have had hundreds 
of years experience doing mental jobs. It would be a waste of manpower to train someone 
else to do them now.
ALSO MEANING I don't like the dull stupid boring jobs, so you should do them. 
I don't mind sharing the work, but you'll have to show me how to do it!
MEANING I ask a lot of questions and you'll have to show me everything every time I 
do it because I don't remember so good. Also don't try to sit down and read while I'm 
doing my jobs because I'm going to annoy hell out of you until it's easier to do them 
yourself. 
We used to be so happy! (Said whenever it was his turn to do something.)
MEANING I used to be so happy.
MEANING Life without housework is bliss. No quarrel here. Perfect agreement. 
We have different standards, and why should I have to work to your standards. That's 
unfair.
MEANING If I begin to get bugged by the dirt and crap I will say "This place is a sty" 
or "How can anyone live like this?" and wait for your reaction. I know that all women 
have a

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Практический курс английского языка. 4 курс под ред. В.Д. Аракина
253 
sore called "Guilt over a messy house" or "Household work is ultimately my 
responsibility." I know that men have caused that sore — if anyone visits and the place is 
a sty, they're not going to leave and say, "He sure is a lousy housekeeper." You'll take the 
rap in any case. I can outwait you.
ALSO MEANING I can provoke innumerable scenes over the housework issue. 
Eventually doing all the housework yourself will be less painful to you than trying to get 
me to do half. Or I'll suggest we get a maid. She will do my share of the work. You will 
do yours. It's women's work. 
I've got nothing against sharing the housework, but you can't make me do it on your 
schedule.
MEANING Passive resistance. I'll do it when I damned well please, if at all. If my job is 
doing dishes, it's easier to do them once a week. If taking our laundry, once a month. If 
washing the floors, once a year. If you don't like it, do it yourself oftener, and then I won't 
do it at all. 
I hate it more than you. You don't mind it so much.
MEANING Housework is garbage work. It's the worst crap I've ever done. It's degrading 
and humiliating for someone of my intelligence to do it. But for someone of your 
intelligence... 
Housework is too trivial to even talk about.
MEANING It's even more trivial to do. Housework is beneath my status. My purpose in 
life is to deal with matters of significance. Yours is to deal with matters of insignificance. 
You should do the housework. 
This problem of housework is not a man-woman problem. In any relationship between 
two people one is going to have a stronger personality and dominate.
MEANING That stronger personality had better be me. 
In animal societies, wolves, for example, the top animal is usually a male even where he 
is not chosen for brute strenght but on the basis of cunning and intelligence. Isn't that 
interesting?
MEANING I have historical, psychological, anthropological and biological justification 
for keeping you down. How can you ask the top wolf to be equal?
Women's Liberation isn't really a political movement.
MEANING The Revolution is coming too close to home.

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Практический курс английского языка. 4 курс под ред. В.Д. Аракина
254 
ALSO MEANING I am only interested in how I am oppressed, not how I oppress others. 
Therefore the war, the draft and the university are political. Women's Liberation is not.
Alan's accomplishments have always depended on getting help from other people, 
mostly women. What great man woul have accomplished what he did if he had to do 
his own housework?
MEANING Oppression is built into the system and I as the white American male receive 
the benefits of this system. I don't want to give them up.
(From: "Voices from Women's Liberation")